I just came back from a fun New York City weekend that was filled with lots of eating, shopping and celebrating a dear friends 40th birthday. I love heading back to the city. New York was my home for six years before I moved to LA, and it always adds a dose of inspiration and gets the creative juices flowing.
Driving to the city from Rhode Island on a Friday is not my favorite, so I drive to New Haven, CT and hop on a train from there. The Metro North train takes you directly into Grand Central Station, one of my favorite spots in the city.
EATING + DRINKING
The weekend started with a cocktail party at a friend's beautiful apartment on lower Fifth Avenue, right off Washington Square Park. The park is a great spot to walk around, sit on a bench and take in the people and views of the city. Dinner was at Chinese Tuxedo, a swanky, dimly-lit spot serving delicious Asian food and drinks in Chinatown. It's a great spot with a group and is one of the those places that mixes dinner and a night out in one.
You can't go to New York without feasting on some bagels -- they really do make the best ones around. I got my bagel fix at
Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company and it was so good!
The second night, a group of us gathered at the charming and chic,
Marlton Hotel, which is in Greenwich Village. We had delicious fireside cocktails in the cozy lobby bar and then ordered Italian food from west village institution,
Morandi. My favorite is always the linguine vongole, but really everything is good on the menu and the best part is they deliver!
SHOPPING
Saturday was spent strolling the streets of NoLita and shopping with some of my best creative friends who inspire me in so many ways.
Oroboro Store on Mott Street carries chic emerging designer brands, accessories, home decor and apothecary and is worth a trip in to find something special.
The Primary Essentials NoLita outpost carries artisanal home goods such as pottery and textiles as well as jewelry, select beauty items and gifts in a beautifully curated space. And, the store
No. 6, which is technically in Little Italy, is worth a trip for their stylish well-made clogs and clothing from a variety of designers.
SEE
Before I headed back home, I caught the Andy Warhol exhibit at the
Whitney Museum of American Art in the meatpacking district, which I highly recommend. It highlights his work from beginning to end and gives you a better idea of the Warhol the artist. Get there early to beat the lines or become a member and you have the perks of going right in.
